Show-case.



No. 754,507. PATBNTED MAR. 15, 1904. o. w. SELDBN.-

snow' CASE.

f APPLICATION FILED DEO. 4, 1903.

. N0 MODEL,

fAfl/ffA'fo/e MIME/a2@ UNITED STATES lPatented. March 15,V 1904.

i PATENT OEE-ICE,.-

OHARLES W. SELDEN, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SHOW-CASE.

v SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Iatent No. 754,507, dated-March 15, 1904. Application filed December 4, 1903. Serial NO- 183,802. (No model.)

To all whom, it may corp-cern,.-

Beit known that L CHARLES W. SELDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Richmond, in the county of Henrico, State of Virginia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Show-Cases, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates toa show-case, and particularly to a construction of clasp for retaining the top plate thereof in posi tion.

The invention has for an object to provide a construction of clasp which will obviate the necessity of drilling or boring the top plate of the show-case and is adapted to hold said plate against lateral, longitudinal, or vertical movement. n

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims. v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective Iof a show-case with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the corner-clasp. Fig. 5 is a vertical section ofthis clasp on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a modified construction of clasp adapted for application to the frontA plate of a show-case. Y

. Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several'gures of the drawings.

The letter A designates a show-oasewhich is provided with the usual top plate Apref erably of glass, and supported by a series of corner-posts A2 of any `preferred construction, said plate being extended beyond the cornerposts and also a front plate A3 of the casing. rIhe case is also provided with the usual vertically-disposed end plates A4, which are secured in position at the corner-posts in any desired manner. Upon each of these cornerposts a corner or angle clasp B is provided and secured to the top face of the posts in any desired manner-for instance, by means offastening-screws passing through the apertures B in the clasp while the free ends B2, which are disposed at an angle to each other, normally extend upward at a right angle to the body of the clasp, as shown in full lines in Fig. i; but when the top plate is in position these ends are bent downward to embrace the edge of the glass plate comprising the top A of the case. The length of the arms ofthe clasp is suliicient to permit the projection of the top plate beyond the side and end plates of the case and also beyond the corner-posts thereof. As shown in Fig. 5, a packing-strip, of rubber, felt, orcother suitable material, B3

is interposed between the metallic body of the clasp and the glass plate to which it is applied.

These corner-clasps are adapted to retain the plate against anylateral or longitudinal movement in a horizontalplane, while the 'bent ends B2 thereof also prevent thelvertical movement thereof. In some cases, however, it has been found desirable toapply an intermediate clasp between the corner-posts of the case, and for that purpose I have shown a single clasp C, secured at its inner end toa molding C', applied to the top edge of the 1 front plate A3 by a'fastening device C?, while the outer end of this clasp C is bent over the edge of the plate A', as at C3, to retain it in position.

In the construction of cases where the molding is not provided upon the upper edges of the side and end plates of the case a single clasp may be applied by means of the modified construction shown in Fig. 6, Where the clasp D is provided with depending feet D and D2, adapted to embrace the upper edge of the front plate A3, the footD' being extended beyond the foot D2 and secured by any preferred meansdsuch, for instance, as the bolt D3passing therethrough and through the front plate. Thefree end of the clasp D is bent upon itself, as shown at D4, to embrace the edge of the top plate A', and, if desired, a rubber packing D5 may be interposed between the plate and clasp, while a cushion-block D6 may also be used between the top edge of the front plate and the body of the clasp D.

In the application of the inventionthe clasps are applied with-the free ends thereof extendv ing -at an angle upward from their body when the top plate is placed in proper position upon the posts, with its edges projecting beyond the front and end plates of the case and the cor- IOO ner-posts thereof, when the free ends of the clasps are bent downward upon the upper surface of the top plate. It will thus be seen that any movement of the top plate in a horizontal plane is prevented and the glass permanently held in position while the vertical movement of said plate is also prevented by the overturned ends of the clasps. This construction obviates the necessity of drilling or boring the heavy top plate of the case, and thus materially lessens the risk of breakage in the application and securing of this plate to the casing and also in the subsequent use of the case when pressure is applied to the top plate thereof. The drilled holes when used are necessarily located adjacent to the edges of the plate, so that a blow or pressure against such edges caused by contact with any object is liable to break or crack the plate at the drilled portion thereof, whilev the present invention prevents the possibility of this damage and also materially improves the appearance of the case in its assembled condition. rlhe projection of the top plate beyond the cornerposts prevents contact with the sides of the case and also improves the appearance of the case. Y

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and application of the clasp without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy 1. In a show-case, a corner-post, an angleclasp disposed upon said corner-post thereof and provided with free ends extended at an angle to each other and adapted to embrace the edges of the topplate of the case at an angle to each other, and means for securing said clasp to the upper portion of said cornerpost.

2. In a show-case, corner-posts, angular clasps disposed upon the upper face of said posts, a top plate adapted to extend beyond the posts and rest upon said clasps, and free bendable ends carried by said clasps to embrace the opposite edges of the topl plate at each corner thereof.

3. In a show-case, corner-posts, angular clasps disposed upon the upper face of said corner-posts, a top plate adaped to extend beyond the posts and rest upon said clasps, free bendable ends carried by said clasps to embrace the opposite edges of the top plate at each corner thereof, and a clasp secured to the vertical plate of the case intermediate of the corner-posts and having a free end to embrace the edge of the top plate.

4. In a show-case, corner-posts, angular clasps disposed upon the upper face of said posts, a top plate adapted to extend beyond the posts and rest upon said clasps, free bendable ends carried by the clasps to embrace the opposite edges of the top plate at each corner thereof, a clasp secured to the vertical plate of the casing intermediate of the corner-posts and having a free end to embrace the edges of the top plate, and a packing-strip disposed between said clasps and the plate embraced thereby.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. W. SELDEN.

Witnesses:

H. K. FRANKLIN, WM. E. WORD. 

